On Friday 17 November, young Australians created a world record when 91,987 Australians joined over 23 million people around the world to set the World Record for the most people to stand up against poverty. Events were held in 321 locations around Australia with a total of 11,646 events in 87 countries.
The Make Poverty History Concert at Melbourne's Myer Music Bowl saw some Australia's most successful and highly regarded musicians donating their time. The concert was great, but the real inspiration is that this huge event was conceived and organised by two remarkable young Australians in an effort to galvanise the next generation into taking affirmative action to end world poverty.
For anyone who saw the concert, you'll understand how humbling it was to see the passion and determination of the 'next generation' to improve this world we live in. For anyone who didn't, you missed something truly magical. For more information and to support the initiative see
www.makepovertyhistory.com.au The concert was the brainchild of a truly amazing young man, Dan Adams - only 19 years of age. Dan initially conceived the idea when he was living in Papua New Guinea in a remote rural village, and his life experiences that followed have only served to strengthen his desire to MAKE POVERTY HISTORY. Having deferred his Aeronautical Engineering studies to organise the biggest MAKE POVERTY HISTORY event in Australian history - Dan is likely to be one of the most inspiring 19 year olds you'll ever meet.
His co-organiser, Hugh Evans, still in his early 20's, is a passionate humanitarian, volunteer and youth leader. Hugh is the Director and Founder of the Oaktree Foundation. Time spent visiting developing communities across the world equipped Hugh with a strong social conscience and a burning desire to mobilise young people to take action on behalf of the world's poor. It was this desire that led to Hugh being chosen as the Young Australian of the Year in 2004. See the website at
www.theoaktree.org You have a feeling with such incredible young people as our future leaders, the world can only become a better place.